Call-register for telephones



- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. E. ADAMS.

GALL REGISTER FOR 'TELEPHONES- Patented Oot. 25, 188.7.

, A(N'oModeI.)

AEE:

(N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. l VA. P. ADAMS.

GALL REGISTER POR TBLBPHUNES.

Patented Oct. 25, 1887.

a 35% M www@ l @MM UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE,

ARTHUR FRANK ADAMS, OF LITTLE ROOK, ARKANSAS.

CALL-REGISTER FOR TELEPHONES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,247, dated October 25, 1887.

Application filed December 22d, i886. Serial No. 222,258. (No model.)

of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Call-Registers for Telephones, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to the class of apparatus employed for registering the number of times a telephone or other similar instrument is used.

The object of the invention is to provide a convenient and reliable form of indicator for registering upon dials or other suitable indicating devices, which may be readily inspected, the number of calls made upon a telephone or other electrical apparatus; also, to provide means for preventing the unauthorized use of the apparatus and to guard against a'repetition ot' the calls without registering the same.

The invention may be generally described as follows:

"Io the ordinary telephone-call apparatus there is applied a circuit-controlling device for the magneto generator, which must be operated when a generator is used to send a call. This circuit-controlling device, when thus 0perated, actuales the registering device and causes the call to beindicated thereon, and thus a record is made.

The circuit-controlling device consists, generally, of a cylinder, which is designed to be turned to a given position each time the circuit is to be closed, and when in that position it completes the connections between two contact-springs resting against the surface of the cylinder, thereby completing the circuit of the magneto-generator, so that a call may be sent. lt is necessaryhowever, to prevent a reverse movementofthecylinder,iorotheiwiseit might be returned to its former position without registering the call. For this purpose a lockingarm is applied to the cylinder. An electromagnet, when vitallzed, actuates a circuit-interrupting device through the lever in such a manner as to sever the normal connections of the circuit, so that a connection for the generator cannot be reestablishcd without revolving the cylinder to its starting-point. A lug upon lthe cylinder operates the lever in case theelectro magnet should not be vitalized. It is designed that this magnet shall be vitalized by a current from the central station when the call is received and answered; but it is necessary that it should not be vitalized by the currents from the magneto-generator in sending the call. There is therefore provided for the magnet a shunt-circuit, which may be closed by a push-button substituted for that ordinarily used for opening the shuntcircuit around the magneto-electric generator. This serves both to interrupt the shunt-circuit around the generator and to close the shunt around the electro-magnet.

The armature-lever of the electro-magnet engages with detents upon the cylinder and prevents it from being turned backward when the magnet is not vitalized, and the moment it is vitalized it interruptsits own cireuit,thus effectually preventing the backward movement. A forward revolution of the cylinder to its starting-point again closes the normal circuit-connections of the electro-magnet and also registers the call upon the dial. When a call has been made and the subscriber desired cannot be reached, it may be desired to allow the person calling to return the cylinder to its normal position without registering the call. To accomplish this a current is sent from the central station through the electro-magnet. This raises the lever and permits the cylinder to revolve backward.

The invention will be described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front view of the box, and Fig. 2 is a sectionrof the same. Fig. 3 is a front view, the case being removed; and Fig. 4 illustrates the circuit-connections. Fig. 5 illustrates a modification.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the inclosing-case for the register, and c a? a3 the dials upon which the units, tens, and hundreds are to be registered. These are covered by a glass panel, a. lVithin the case there is placed a cylinder, B, which may be revolved by means of a suitable key, c,enteringaslot, 7c', in the end of the cylinder. When theapparatus is at rest', this cylinder is designed to stand in the positionV shown in the drawings; but when a call is to be sent it is turned to- IOO ward the right hand, approximately, one-half 0f a revolution, placing a contact-piece, b, against the contact-springs c and c2. A springeatch, b", entering a notch, b5, temporarily retains the cylinder in this position. The primary object ofthe cylinder is to close the circuit-connections between the two springs c' and ct. The former of these is in electrical connection, by means of a conductor, 2, with one ot' the contact-springs, c', of a magnetoelectric generator, E, which usually forms a part of the equipment at a subscriber-s station. Theother contact-spring, ci, is connected by a conductor, l, with the binding-postf of the instrument. The contact-spring c2 is connected by a conduetor,3, with a contact-spring, (1. This spring extends in a direction at right angles to the axis ot the cylinder B, and is normally held a ray therefrom by means of a spring-catch, g. Atthesame time the eireuitis completed between the springsgi and y', the latter being connected by a conductor, 4, through the coils ol' an electro-magnet, H, with a conductor, 5, leading to the conductor 6. The conductor (i includes the coils of the call-bell I, and is in turn connected with a conductor, 7, leading to a spring, ,and this makes contact with the telephone-switch i,ofwellknown character, the latter being connected by conductor S with the binding-post f2. The circuit is thus complete, and the generator might be operated, except that a shunt circuit is coniplete around it, which must first be inter'- rupted. This shuutcircuit includes a conductor, 9, leading from the conduetor4,whieh leads from the electro-magnet H, to a contactspring, j. This spring normally rests against Ia point, .7", which is in electrical connection,

through a conductor, 10, with the conductor l or the brush ct. A push-button, J, applied to the spring j, serves to press the latter from the point j' against a second point, ji, when desired. The latter point is connected by a conductor, ll, with the conductor 5, leading from the electro-magnet H. The saine operation of the push button, therefore, interrupts the shunt around the magneto-generator and closes that around the electro-magnet H. This inagnet H and its armature h and lever h are designed to be operated by a current from the central office, which shall be senteach time the apparatus is used to interrupt the circuit-connections between the two springs g and g', thereby preventing the circuit of the magnetogenerator from being again completed until the cylinder has been again revolved. 'Vhen the magnet is vitalized, an arm, h2, extending from the lever h, lifts the spring g', allowing the springg to press forward until it strikes against the cylinder, in which position it will be separated from the spring g. It cannot again be placed in contact with the spring g until the cylinder is revolved back to its starting-point, whereupon a lug, b2, presses it forward until it is caught and retained by the spring g. This insures that the cylinder shall be turned before another call is sent. In order to prevent the cylinder from being turned backward to this point a catch, b3, is placed in the cylinder, which, by engaging with the end ofthe armature-lever 71, will prevent the cylinder from being turned backward. This catch consists of a notch in the cylinder, and thus does not raise the armature-lever and release the spring g.

To prevent an attempt being made to turn the cylinder backward from its normal position to place the lug b against the springs c/ c?, a lug, b, projects from the cylinder in front of the armature-lever. This lug also serves to lift the armature-lever and release the spring g, and also to hold the spring f/ back while the spring [j is being reset. \Vhen a call has not been answered, itshould not be registered, but the cylinder should be turned back to its starting-point. To permit ot' this the circuit is closed at the central station, and a current is sent through the circuit composed ol" the conductors l 10, contact-point j', spring j, conductor 9, coils f, electro-magnet H, and conductors 5, 6, 7, and 8. This permits the cylinder being turned back as the lever lL is raised.

The registering device itself consists of a lug, o', upon the cylinder B, engaging with the teeth of a ratchet-wheel, u', the axis of which carries the indicator m ot' the. dial a'. This wheel has ten teeth7 and the dial is provided with the nine digits and a cipher for indicating the revolutions of the cylinder. A spur or lug, 02, upon the wheel n engages the teeth of a second wheel, ai, similar to the wheel n. This wheel ai carries the index m`z oi' the dial c, which serves to register the teils. The wheel nl will be actuated once for each revolution of the wheel n'. In like manner the hundreds are registered by an index, m3, applied to the dial c and carried upon the axis of a wheel, n. A lug, o, upon the wheel u actuates the wheel n3.

Instead oi' employing` a lug, b, upon the cylinder B for closing the circuit between the springs c and c", the key k may bemade with a tlange, k3, of suilicient width to project beyond the surface of the cylinder, as shown in Fig. 5. This ilange, being of conducting niaterial, will serve as a conductor for the purpose required.

The keys for the different registering devices may, if desired, be made of different patterns, so that they cannot be interchanged, or for the keys may be substituted a knob on the end of cylinder B.

To prevent any interference or tampering with the working parts by subscribers or others, the outside case, A, is secured bya lock, the key to which is retained by the agent ot' the company furnishing the same. Thewhole device may be incorporated and manufactured as a partof and in the same case with any make of magneto-electric call-bells.

l. The combination, with a calling-.circuit and a magneto-electric generator for telephonecalls, of a circuit-controlling device normally IOO IIO

interrupting the connections of the generator,

a normally-closed shunt-circuit around said generator, means for opening said shunt-circuit, a device for operating 'said circuit-controlling device to complete the circuit of the generator, a registering device operated by the last-named device, an electro-magnet for interrupting the connections of said circuit when said magnet is vitalized, and means for shuuting said electro-magnet.

2. The combination,\vith a telephone and a movable circuitcontrolling support for the same, of an electric calling device, a second circuit-controlling device normally interrupting the circuit of the san1e,a registering device, and mcans for closing said circuit and simultaneously operating said registering device.

3. The combination,with a magneto-electric generator and a circuit for the same normally interrupted at a given point, of means for closing said circuit, a registering device operated by the closing of the circuit at said point,

a device for interrupting said circuit atanother point, an electro-magnet for operating the last-named device, a shunt-circuit around said electro-magnet,and means for closing the same when the generator is operated.

4. Ihe combination of a magneto-electric generator, a normally-interrupted circuit for the same, a shunt-circuit normally closed around the generator, a device for closing the circuit of the generator, a register operated by said device, means for preventing a retrograde movement of the register, an electro magnet operating, when vitalized, to interrupt the circuit of said generator, and means for interrupting the shunt-circuit around the generator and simultaneously closing the shunt-'circuit around said electro-magnet.

5. The combination, in a telephonecall system,of a registering device consisting of a cylinder or its equivalent, means for revolving the same in a given directioma registering device operated thereby, a lever serving to prevent a retrograde movement of the cylinder, an electro-magnet for actuating said lever, a circuit-interrupting device operated by the lever, and a lug upon said cylinder serving to mechanically operate said lever.

6. The combination, in a device for registering telephonecalls,of a cylinder,a circuitclosing plate upon said cylinder,serving,when in a given position,to close the calling-circuit, an electro-magnet and devices applied thereto for interrupting said calling-circuit,and a device for shunting the coils of said electro-magnet at Will.

7. In a telephonecall register, the combination of one or more registering-dials, a cylinder capable of revolving in a given direction, a circuit-closing device for the callingf circuit closed by the revolution of said cylinder, and a devicemoving with Ysaid cylinder for actuating said dials, substantially as described.

8. In a telephone-call register, a circuitclosing device applied to the calling-circuit, a keyfor operating said device, a circuit-interrupting device, and a mechanical and an electrical device operating independently of each other to actu-ate said interrupting device each time the call is operated.

9. In a telephone-call register, the combination of a cylinder, a key for turning the same, a circuit-closing device for closing the call-circuit when said cylinder is in a given position, a circuit-interrupting device actuated by said cylinder when in another position, catches for preventing a retrogradel movement of the cylinder. and a registering device operated by the revolutions of said cylinder.

l0. In a call-registering device, the combination of the cylinder, contact-plates carried by the same, the springs constituting the terminals of the calling-circuit capable of being placed in electrical connection with said plate, a circuit-interrupting device for said cylinder, the lever for operating said circuit-interrupting device, the detent or catch upon said cylinder engaged by said lever and preventing a retrograde movement ot the said cylinder, means for operating said lever, and thereby actuating the interrupting device once during each revolution of the cylinder, and a lug or equivalent device moving with the cylinder for re-establishing the connections through said interrupting device when the cylinder is returned to its normal position.

11. In a call-registering device, the combination,with the cylinder B, of the lug o', moving with the cylinder, the circuitclosing springs c and c?, the plate b', carried by the cylinder, the series of Wheels actuated by said lug, the pointers moving With said wheels, and the dials to which said pointers are applied.

12. In a call-registering device, the combi-V said interrupting device, and the lever h, for

actuating the interrupting device.

In testimony whereof` I have hereunto subscribed my name this 16th day of December, A. D. 1886.

ARTHUR FRANK ADAMS.

Witnesses:

AMos M. ADAMs, FANNIE L. KERRor'r.

IOO

IlO 

